Okay, just so people know this story takes place in the Naruto timeline, yet follows my own original characters rather than team 7. However everything that happens to team 7 as per the manga happens in this as well. So even if I don't talk about it, team 7 still went to the wave country etc.. and still learn stuff as usual. I'm hoping with this story to let everyone see the characters from a new perspective and see the struggles of ninja completely out shadowed by the ones of the manga. Though I will of course attempt to avoid it, if there is any OOC'ness or if my characters become Mary sues feel free to tell me. Enjoy. If people ask for it I will give character stats.

Chapter 1 - Graduation

"The academy graduation exam will begin in twenty minutes," the scarred Chuunin Umino Iruka called out to the silent class, "when your name is called please make your way into the examination room to take the exam. Take this time to prepare yourself and good luck to all of you!" With that the man gave his class a reassuring smile before walking into a back room and closing the door. Immediately after he had done so nervous chatter erupted among the students.

Shinji Karoshima allowed his fingers to drum nervously on his desk, was he nervous? Damn right he was! Grade wise he was about in the middle of the class, in fact only an act of fate could really stop him from graduating, his grasp of academy level ninjutsu was fine. The knowledge however didn't stop his pounding heart.

Shinji was a remarkably unremarkable boy, dark black hair that fell over his eyes in a haphazard fashion and travelled down his back in a small ponytail, a plain ordinary face with a small worried frown etched onto it. His eyes were hardly visible through his fringe but they were a dark blue. At around 5 feet 3 inches tall he guessed he was quite tall compared to some of the other students, but this didn't stop him from blending in and hiding among his peers. Dark green trousers taped down onto black boots adorned his legs and he wore a sleeveless thick jerkin over a fishnet shirt. Black gloves with small metal plates on them covered his hands.

Shinji wasn't ugly, nor was he handsome, perhaps plain would be a more accurate word. Like all the other candidates here he was twelve years old and had been attending the academy with all of them from the start. However in all that time he had never managed to make any friends within them. Idly he wished he had a friend to talk to right now, as to alleviate some worry.

Why had he no friends? He wasn't cruel or arrogant like the Uchiha Sasuke, nor loud and brash like Uzumaki Naruto. The fact was that Shinji was completely too shy. Not Hyuuga Hinata shy, he didn't stutter and blush when someone spoke to him, but rather he would become uncomfortable and almost confused. Even though at the time he would desperately urge himself to respond his mouth would not form the words. As such he had garnered a reputation as a strange one to be avoided. Of course he wasn't the only one, but Aburame Shino seemed to have little problems with the lack of attention.

"Haruno Sakura!" a voice called out, making the pretty pink haired girl jump to her feet and head to the room, giving a small smile to her heart throb Uchiha on the way.

Shinji both pitied and was annoyed by that boy. He pitied him for the fate that had befallen his family, as a member of a clan Shinji knew about the Uchiha massacre. At the same time he was annoyed by the Uchiha's cocky attitude and superior smirk. Of course he was not the only one.

"Bastard! What's so great about you anyway!" A loud voice shouted out, drawing all eyes to Naruto and Sasuke, who were staring into each others eyes with pure hate.

Naruto… Blonde, loud, dead-last, trouble maker. Shinji didn't know what to make of him, on one hand a lot of people seemed to hate him, and all of the Karoshima clan were very tight lipped if he ever came up in conversation. Yet at the same time apart from being slightly annoying the blonde had never done anything to harm Shinji himself. Not that it mattered, he was just another person in the academy to the young Karoshima.

"Oh sorry." A boy said as he moved backwards, accidentally knocking Naruto from behind. Shinji couldn't help the small smile that came to his face as the two bitter enemies kissed each other.

"Such a lovely couple." He said in a small voice, probably the first thing he had said since entering the academy. It brought a few laughs from some guys sitting near him, this in its own almost made him blush.

"NARUTOOOOO!!!!" A banshee like voice called out as the pink haired now-Kunoichi as she re entered the room, Gennin forehead protector worn on her head like some hair band.

"Shinji Karoshima!" A voice called out. Thanking his lucky stars that he would not have to watch the vicious beat down that was occurring in the class room the young boy climbed to his feet and made his way somewhat nervously towards the backroom.

Upon entering the room he saw Iruka and Mizuki sitting behind a desk with a veritable pile of forehead protectors before them. The sight made Shinji gulp in fear.

"Now, now Shinji. It will be fine." Iruka began in a calm voice, having long known of the boy's nervousness about most things. "All you have to do to pass is show two academy level Ninjutsu, Bunshin no Jutsu and Henge no Jutsu, and then show us a Jutsu you learned on your own outside of the academy. Begin when ready."

Shinji nodded, wondering how many people might be caught out by having to show a jutsu learned outside of the academy. Apparently not Sakura, despite not being from a shinobi family.

Right, I can do this.

"Bunshin no Jutsu!" He spoke out loud, forming the hand seals. A quick burst of smoke and there were four Shinji's standing where there had been one.

"Very good." Mizuki spoke, writing something down on a piece of paper with a quick smile to Shinji. "Henge?"

Shinji nodded, dispelling his clones to save Chakra. "Henge." He whispered, transforming into Mizuki with no trouble.

"That's perfect," Iruka congratulated, making Shinji sigh in relief, "Now for your own jutsu?" Shinji decided to keep it simple, going for the main Karoshima family technique. No doubt Mizuki and Iruka had seen it a few times before.

Taking a small kunai from his pouch he quickly cut his thumb, allowing a small trail of blood to flow. With a quick flick of his wrist he sent a few drops flying away from himself towards an open space in the room. Focusing his eyes on one particularly large drop he quickly projected his chakra into it.

"Kai."

A small explosion rocked the room as the blood ignited and caused a small but violent blast. The rush of air blowing Shinji's hair back a little.

"Exploding blood technique of the Karoshima clam, very well done. You pass Shinji, here is your forehead protector, wear it with pride Gennin of the leaf." Iruka intoned handing Shinji a strip of cloth with the metal plate bearing the Konoha spiral.

"Thank you." Shinji spoke as confidently as he could, reaching out with a shaking hand to grasp it. He couldn't believe it, he had passed!

"Feel free to head home if you wish, the team selection will take place tomorrow at 8am. Be here on time."

---------Time skip because I'm lazy.---------

Shinji stood outside the academy, debating whether or not he should enter, it was currently only seven in the morning, he had come a full hour early in his haste and anticipation. That and his mother had been excited enough to drag him out of bed for breakfast at half past five…

Shrugging his shoulders he pushed open the door of the academy and headed to his class room. Though it was early he knew that the academy would have been open since five am to allow cleaners and teachers more than enough time to prepare. Making his way to their classroom Shinji sat at his seat and rested his head on his arms on the top of his desk. If he had to wait for another hour, he might as well get comfortable.

So saying he was completely unprepared for when he fell asleep.

"WHAT! NO WAY!!!" A loud voice shouted, waking Shinji up with a start. He quickly looked around to figure out where he was. Academy, class, team selection, Oh CRAP! If I missed what team I'm on I'll kill myself.

"Iruka-Sensei why am I on Sasuke-teme's team!?!" the loud voice demanded again. Naruto of course. So it seemed that Naruto and Sasuke were on the same team, and judging from the happy smirk on Sakura's face she was too. That team could become a very skilled group of shinobi… Shinji was glad he wasn't on it though.

"Naruto, Quiet!" Iruka scolded, "Sasuke had the highest scores whilst you had the lowest. It is a balance." There were a few chuckles from this amongst the other students as Naruto settled into his seat in an angry huff.

"Team 8" Iruka continued, "Hyuuga Hinata, Inizuka Kiba and Aburame Shino." Shinji let out a breath, three major clans in one team. Very deadly. Of course it was likely another Yamanka – Akimachi – Nara group would be formed. It was impossible to tell what team Shinji would be on however.

"Team 9. Karoshima Shinji," Shinji's ears immediately perked up, this was his team. "Obaru Ayame and Manami Hana." Shinji settled back into his seat nervously. He knew neither of them well but that was to be expected really. He would just have to learn about them while they were together on the team.

"Team 10, Yamanaka Ino, Akimachi Chouji and Nara Shikamaru." More complaints erupted from another loud blue eyed blonde this time.

"Await your Genin instructors here." Iruka instructed before walking out of the room and leaving them alone. Immediately the new Genins began to group off into their new teams in order to meet their new team mates. Shinji knew he should do the same. Steeling himself he took a deep breath and stood up. His team was fairly simple to find, two girls sitting in a corner looking around as if trying to figure out who their third member was. It didn't surprise him that they did not recognise his name. Then again he barely remembered theirs.

Taking another breath he walked as confidently as he could up to them, they noticed him a few seconds before he reached them. He paused and took a few seconds to study them.

Obaru Ayame was a very small girl, quite a few inches under five feet tall she had light brown hair that reached down in a random fashion to her shoulders, it didn't look all that well kept or brushed. Her face was a pale cream and her features petite and cute he supposed. A small button nose and light pink lips. Her eyes were a faded green. Her clothing seemed functional, tight light brown trousers with a shuriken and kunai pouch on each leg, a few more pockets on the sides than normal. She also had a tree green shirt on with a brown jacket over it. Shinji was glad she looked like someone who took being a ninja seriously.

Manami Hana seemed the small girls polar opposite. Hana was as tall as Shinji was and had wild black hair and dark brown eyes. Her skin was tan and she had a confident yet friendly smile on her face. Where Ayame looked to be more cute, Hana was more striking. She had a straight nose and sparkling eyes. Her clothing consisted of a sleeveless dark blue coat that reached down to her knees and brown trousers. She would be wearing other clothing under the coat, but she had it buttoned up and he could not tell.

"Are you Karoshima Shinji?" Hana asked with a confident voice. Shinji was instantly put on the back foot at having two people pay so much attention to him, all he managed was a quick nod. The two of them smiled kindly at him, relaxing him somewhat while at the same time making him blush slightly.

"Well I'm Hana and this is Ayame, please call us by our first names. It's nice to meet you Shinji-san." Ayame smiled and nodded to show she agreed with Hana's words.

"Thank you." Shinji managed to get out after a few seconds, his uncomfortable nature made obvious to his team.

"There's no need to be like that around us Shinji-kun," Ayame spoke for the first time, "we're team mates. You don't need to be uncomfortable around us, feel free to say whatever you like." Again Shinji only managed a nod, making Hana and Ayame sigh in exasperation.

"I'm here for team 9." A female voice called out over the classroom. The three of them along with every other Genin turned to the doors to observe the first Jounin Sensei to enter. The woman, for it was a woman, had long dark brown hair tied into a ponytail and a firm yet calm face. Well defined cheekbones and full lips. Her clothing consisted of the Jounin jacket hanging open over a light brown tight top that showed off her well developed figure. Regular issue green combat trousers covered her long legs. Shinji wanted to laugh inside at how lucky most other guys must have considered him. Stuck on a team with three girls, one being a very sexy Jounin. To Shinji however it was simply nerve wracking.

"Come on Shinji." Hana urged, dragging him up by his arm. Shinji almost jumped at the contact but managed to hold it in and followed them out the room, ignoring the disappointed sounds of the males left behind. Their teacher led them into an empty classroom and sat down on one of the desks, motioning for the three of them to sit wherever they liked. Hana and Ayame sat down on chairs in front of her while after a few seconds pause Shinji did similarly.

"Alright my students." The woman began in a bored voice. "Lets introduce ourselves to the team, give me your name, likes, dislikes, dreams and skills. I'll go first."

"Ahem." She began. "My name is Kazu Yumi. I'm twenty years old and have been a Jounin for four years, this is my first Genin team. I enjoy going out with my friends and having fun. I dislike arrogant men and clans in Konoha," this sentence made Shinji shrink back nervously, "my dream is to live a decent life. My skills are pretty varied really. I focus on knowing enough to get out of any situation." She pointed to Hana next "you."

"Hey, my names Hana, I like swords and weapons and fighting. I dislike people who think being a ninja is a joke. My dream is to be a respected Kunoichi, my skills are Taijutsu and Kenjutsu, but I can do some other Ninjutsu too." She sat down as the others digested the information. So she was a weapons specialist? The sword she had said. Ayame stood up.

"My name is Obaru Ayame but please call me Ayame. I like peace and quiet and want to protect it. I dislike mean people and bullies. My dream is to become a Jounin and have my own team. My skills are Genjustu, stealth and Suiton skills since my family was originally from mist country. I hope we can all be good friends." She smiled a kind smile and sat down, signalling that it was Shinji's turn.

There was a pregnant pause before he managed to force himself to his feet.

"My name is Shinji Karoshima…. Of the Karoshima clan… I like.. reading I think. I dislike it when people hate me or get angry at me. My dream is to be respected by people. My skills… my skills are trap laying, and my family Jutsu." He quickly sat down again, ignoring the raised eyebrow of his new sensei.

"Okay then… well. I want you all to meet me tomorrow at training area 32. be there at eight sharp. Bring as much gear as you can. As if you were going to war." Yumi-sensei climbed to her feet and turned away from them.

"Dismissed."

Terrible start I know lol. I am very bad at intros. Hopefully it will get better when things start. As for any questions, I do not intend for Shinji to stay this way. He is only this uncomfortable because he does not know his team, as soon as he gets to know them he will relax considerably. As for the obvious question. No, the Karoshima clan does not have a bloodline. They are more like the Nara clan who simply have family Jutsu that bring them apart from other Shinobi. Also yes the clan members ARE as arrogant as other clans you see, i.e. Hyuuga, Uchiha.